The body of the 39-year-old Cerniglia was found floating in the river after jumping off the George Washington Bridge in NYC, it was reported Tuesday. Cerniglia, a married father of three, reportedly was deep in debt.

Video: ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ chef commits suicide

Transcript of: ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ chef commits suicide

MEREDITH VIEIRA, co-host:And now to the tragic death of a chef who appeared on a popular
reality television show
. Police say he
took his own life
.
NBC
's
Jeff Rossen
is live outside that man's restaurant in
Fair Lawn
,
New Jersey
, for us this morning.
Jeff
, good morning to you.

JEFF ROSSEN reporting:Hi
,
Meredith
, good morning to you. We're talking about the
Fox
show and it's a pretty popular show as you mentioned called "
Kitchen Nightmares
." On it, the star,
Gordon Ramsay
, uses some vicious language and what many call tough love to really pick these failing restaurants up onto their feet and put them back into shape. That's exactly what he did three years ago. Came here to
Campania
in
Fair Lawn
,
New Jersey
, grilled the chef on
national TV
. Well, last week that chef killed himself.

Celebrity chefGordon Ramsay
.

ROSSEN:He is known as a foul-mouthed foodie. It's all part of a show on
Fox's
"Kitchen Nightmares.

ROSSEN:In
2007
, he was all over
Joe Cerniglia
, the head chef and donor of
Campania Restaurant
in
New Jersey
.

ROSSEN:The confrontations brutal.

ROSSEN:Last week, Chef
Joe Cerniglia
jumped off the
George Washington Bridge
to his death, his body pulled from the
Hudson River
, deemed a suicide. His wife and three sons left behind. A headline in the
New York Post
called it a "Kitchen Nightmare." But
Joe's
family doesn't blame
Ramsay
. We spoke with his sister.
Gordon
was tough on him.

Ms. DANIELLE WYNN (Joe Cerniglia's Sister):Oh, he liked
Gordon
, and the show was great. The show was great for business. It really helped tremendously.

ROSSEN:In
2006
,
Rachel Brown
was on the
Fox
show "Hell's_Kitchen," where
Ramsay
is very tough on aspiring chefs.
Brown
shot herself to death a year after the taping of the
reality show
. Why she did it is unclear.

Ms.
BONNIE FULLER
I don't know that we can blame
Gordon Ramsay
. A lot of the contestants know very clearly what they're getting into. They've seen the show.

ROSSEN:As for
Joe Cerniglia
, he was passionate about cooking and his wife
Melissa
cherished him for it.

Ms. MELISSA CERNIGLIA:You know, it's his dream and I know he's giving it his all to, you know, try and succeed.

ROSSEN:But today she's left alone with the restaurant and their children.

Ms. WYNN:Joe
was one of the most beautiful people that I've ever known. Just so loved. So, so loved.

ROSSEN:By the way, it's important to mention the restaurant here in
Fair Lawn
is actually doing quite well now, much better than when
Gordon Ramsay
was here a few years ago. And they give
Ramsay
partial credit for that. In fact, just last year, friends say
Gordon Ramsay
came back because he and
Joe
stayed in touch to do a follow-up show about the success. We should mention,
Meredith
, as well, that
Gordon Ramsay
released a statement saying that
Joe
was a brilliant chef and that his thoughts go out to his family, friends and his